In October 2022 I will be flying to Tanzania with @mountexpeds and 22 other people to climb Kilimanjaro. It is the highest mountain in Africa, over 4 times the height of Ben Nevis. I will be on the mountain for 6 days. 

I only know 2 people on the trek, 1 of them is the incredible Rhian Mannings, whose amazing charity 2wish will mark its 10th anniversary with our climb. That means it is 10 years since I first heard Rhian's heartbreaking story, through someone I worked with who was a friend of hers. I remember crying, feeling complete empathy for her loss and wondering how on earth someone would survive that. 10 years on our paths crossed and I discovered that she did so by setting up a groundbreaking charity to help others through their own grief by providing the support she and Paul never had. 

I have never done 'an ask'. If everyone whose lives I might have touched in some way sponsored me, it would make such a big difference to so many people faced with losing a child. 

This is Rhian's story.. Please  take a couple of minutes to read it and support our trek. 

In February 2012, Rhian was playing with her one year old son George when he suffered a sudden seizure. The couple dialled 999 and George was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Despite the best efforts of staff, he passed away shortly after arriving. It was later discovered he had been suffering from bronchial pneumonia and type A influenza. Rhian recalled 'we were given a booklet, escorted back down to A&E and then out into the night. Our whole world had been turned on its head and we were just left. Paul was struggling and blamed himself. He kept saying he was his daddy and he should have saved him'.

Unable to cope with the loss of his son and suffering from PTSD, five days later Paul, 33, took his own life. Rhian could barely function for months. The turning point came when she launched 2wish, to support others suffering from the sudden loss of a child or young person. It is now working with almost every A&E unit in Wales and operates family rooms in hospitals, to provide a private place of comfort and support after sudden bereavement. It also works with police forces, offers counselling and support to those who have lost someone suddenly, and those who have witnessed a sudden death, and helps hundreds of people every year.

Watch Rhian explain why the support offered by 2wish is so important:

https://vimeo.com/embed-redirect/90845527?embedded=true&source=video_title&owner=9977634